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CSTE National ELR Workgroup

Welcome to the CSTE National ELR Workgroup Basecamp! We hope you will utilize the space to share resources with colleagues, start discussion threads, and identify topics for the workgroup to tackle on future calls. All workgroup members will have the opportunity to join. Please note that you may edit your notification preferences to suit your needs (and your email inbox). If you are not already on the ELR distribution list and would like to receive call communications, please enroll using this subscription form (copy and paste in browser): https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/5a91a4579952496682084796b82112e6
Becky Lampkins, Manager, Surveillance/Informatics Program at CSTEMegan Toe, CSTEScott Troppy, Surveillance Epidemiologist at MA DPHMeredith Lichtenstein, CSTEAmy Drake, NMJohn RobertsNancy Barrett, Epi 4/PH Informatics SpecialistErin Holt, TDHRita Altamore, EpidemiologistDavid DiCesareJason HallWalter Kemper, ELR Coordinator, NC DHHS Div of Public HealthJulie LuepkeCarmen Pugh, Labcorp Manager State Reporting at LabCorpTom Safranek +399 others
Posted by Amy Drake ·

Easy ELR wins?

Hi all,

We are struggling with prioritizing laboratories for ELR onboarding.  Two of the criteria we are using are 1. Number of COVID tests done on NM citizens, and 2. Laboratories that can produce an HL7 (and/or HHS) compliant result without much babysitting.

Obviously, y'all can't help us with #1, but...

Does anyone out there have any recommendations for laboratories that are easy to onboard? (and contact information for those laboratories.)

Thank you!
Amy

Comments & Events

Veronica Fialkowski, Infectious Disease Epidemiogloist Veronica Fialkowski, Infectious Disease Epidemiogloist
This is the exact same thing Vermont is doing. The other option we provide is csv file through an SFTP that we convert to an HL7, so if they can do the schema then those are also prioritized. 

-Veronica 
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Andrew Horvath - CDPHE Andrew Horvath - CDPHE
Colorado has been doing the same thing.

I'm wondering if other states know what proportion of COVID tests come in through ELR. Our number has been fluctuating quite a bit as new labs appear, but it's about 86% right now, and we're getting pressure to get that as close to 100% as possible. General ELR in the BC era was over 90%.

Andrew
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Nancy Barrett, Epi 4/PH Informatics Specialist Nancy Barrett, Epi 4/PH Informatics Specialist
For us the ELR via HL7 is around 85% ish, but we also take in csv files (E-Files) so our total electronic labs are around 95%. Yes it fluctuates. And the addition of these new testing labs has caused the % to drop as at the start we had a lot more paper before we could transition to some sort of efile which is still a struggle.
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Nancy Barrett, Epi 4/PH Informatics Specialist Nancy Barrett, Epi 4/PH Informatics Specialist
Amy -- because our focus is on PCR results, our priorities are labs testing communities/LTCF-congregate settings and now colleges/universities. Our state has contracted testing, so those we worked with as soon as possible. 

Yes it is very hard to keep up. We do accept antibody tests, but these don't go into our surveillance system (keeping up with negative PCR results is hard enough). Antigen tests are going to be different as those we will have to put into surveillance system.

We also provide a schema for csv - that will need to be changed for device identifier and other items. 

Amy would using a cohort type approach work? 
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Riki Merrick, Terminologist at APHL Riki Merrick, Terminologist at APHL
Well hopefully getting the flatfiile to HL7 converter too you all will make life easier on your side (and hopefully on the submitter side, too)- ETA currently next week.

Riki
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Amy Drake, NM Amy Drake
Thanks everyone,
We have a flat file to HL7 feed based on Oregon's protocol (thank you!), in production.  We need to decide if we will have two acceptable flat file once yours comes on line, Riki, in order to accommodate labs that are already or will be sending in that format.

What I'm looking for is laboratories that are easy to onboard for HL7 (primarily for PCR, though it looks like we should increasingly look for antigen test results.)

I hope y'all are staying healthy!
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Nereida Corral Nereida Corral
Riki, do you think that the flat file will be useful for providers? We are getting a lot of pushback from providers about reporting the tests that go to labs and, frankly, they struggle to keep up with reporting of POC tests too.
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Riki Merrick, Terminologist at APHL Riki Merrick, Terminologist at APHL
Amy,
the format that PHAs get from the APHL flatfile is V2.5.1 ELR R1 (Plus HHS elements).

Nancy,
I was thinking that the flatfile could also be used for ordering, when there is no interface to capture the AOEs etc - is that what you mean? (though we have not currently built a tab with order only columns.
and yes it would be useful for POC - it is built to support manual data entry with drop downs and configuration pages, so that hopefully the fields that need actual manual input are reduced, if mappings can be set up beforehand,

Happy to demo the tool on the next call, unless you think that's too late.
Riki
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Nancy Barrett, Epi 4/PH Informatics Specialist Nancy Barrett, Epi 4/PH Informatics Specialist
Hi Riki, tool demo would be good!
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Riki Merrick, Terminologist at APHL Riki Merrick, Terminologist at APHL
sure - we can demo the tool on the next call, unless you want to have a separate call for that, or use a CELR call and announce on basecamp?

Riki
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Nancy Barrett, Epi 4/PH Informatics Specialist Nancy Barrett, Epi 4/PH Informatics Specialist
Hi Riki, wherever you think the best audience reach and impact would be.
Nancy
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Nereida Corral Nereida Corral
Hi Riki,
We are eager to receive and start using the template here in CO. I would be interested in the first available opportunity to see a demo.
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Riki Merrick, Terminologist at APHL Riki Merrick, Terminologist at APHL
Hi all,
here is the info for the OPen CELR Call on THURSDAY 8/13/2020 at 4 PM ET:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://aphl.zoom.us/j/92334105137



Meeting ID: 923 3410 5137

One tap mobile

+13017158592,,92334105137# US

+13126266799,,92334105137# US (Chicago)

We will hold our CELR Open Call this Thursday, August 13th at 4pm ET. This week we will demo a tool that APHL developed that will convert the NatELRFlatFile CSV into HL7 messages. We hope you can join us for this presentation and the subsequent discussion.



Note that we are expanding the scope of the COVID-19 ELR Open Calls to encompass the agency’s entire laboratory dataflow. As most of you know, APHL has been working with CDC, CSTE, and other partners to develop standardized tools and resources to help agencies receive data from laboratories, and then send it to CDC, HHS, and other partners more easily. Technical assistance is available upon request for agencies at any stage of this workflow. In addition, several large-volume laboratories, individual testing centers, and POC testing sites will use AIMS to route ELR across public health agencies, centralizing and streamlining the reporting process for all partners. We will extend the Open Calls through the end of August to provide a forum in which to discuss these important initiatives.



Again, this week we will focus on the tool that APHL has developed that will convert CSV lab records into HL7 messages. We will also review the timeline for moving the Centralized ELR partners into production and discuss any questions you have about receiving and processing these data. Finally, we will check in on jurisdictions’ progress to implement the updated CELR requirements.

Riki
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Jason Wotton Jason Wotton
Link not working for us.

Jason
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Sita Smith Sita Smith
I had to keep trying, got in eventually
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Riki Merrick, Terminologist at APHL Riki Merrick, Terminologist at APHL
I will post the recording to this thread - sorry about that,

Riki
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Sita Smith Sita Smith
Thanks, Riki -  and for all the work. It's impressive.
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Emily Roberts Emily Roberts
Hey Riki, 

How do we get added to the meeting list for the CELR calls?

Thanks!
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Riki Merrick, Terminologist at APHL Riki Merrick, Terminologist at APHL
Here is the recording link from today’s COVID-19 ELR Open Call: https://youtu.be/jPzpa51ydd0.

Riki
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